Use beer to ward off slugs.

Turns out the little pests will wander right into jars of brewski if you leave them hidden properly in the ground, according to Wisebread.

Be sure the rims of the jars are at ground level and check back on them a day or so later to easily dispose of the unsuspecting critters. It's just as effective as salt without the hassle of finding the slugs yourself.

Leftover tea can take care of unwanted smells.

Feet deodorizer. Try soaking your smelly soles for about 30 minutes in enough black tea to keep them covered (about three bags boiled in a quart should do the trick––add cold water to cool).

Fire starter. "Tuck dried tea bags into a cardboard tube from toilet paper or paper towels and light them to start a fire," Noel says. "You can add dryer lint or crumpled newspaper to help fill the tube, too."

Odor remover. "Put some used tea bags in a jar and place in your refrigerator to absorb odors," she adds.

Use olive oil in lieu of shaving cream.

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The price of shaving creams these days is enough to make any girl's leg hairs stand on end. But if you're well-stocked in the olive oil department, you'll be glad to know that Rachel Ray's favorite kitchen staple is also great as a makeshift shaving oil.

Bonus: According to Woman's Day, olive oil is packed with skin-nourishing nutrients, so go ahead and skip the $10 moisturizer afterward to save even more.

Use vinegar to make your dog's coat shine.

REUTERS/Nathaniel Wilder

Vinegar may be pretty assaulting on the olfactory senses, but it is probably one of the most diverse products you have in your household arsenal.

Vinegartips.com recommends using it to make your pup's coat really shine. Just mix a cup of the white distilled variety with one quart of water, then rub down its coat with your hands.

Baking soda works magic on clogged drains.

Before you drop cash on Drain-O for that clogged sink, just grab some baking soda from the fridge and let it do the work at a fraction of the cost.

First, pour 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, Real Simple suggests. Then slowly add equal parts white vinegar and let it sit for five minutes. Douse the drain with a gallon of boiling water afterward and run the water to check your results.

Breath mint containers double as a flashlight and wallet.

The gadget-minded out there will love this DIY flashlight made out of an old tic tac container and a few batteries.

Ladies looking for a quick way to stash their credit cards for a night out can use an Altoid tin, too (see photo, right).

Cinnamon is a natural deterrent for bugs.

Sylvain Dubey (University of Lausanne)

Forget pricey pesticides. If you want to keep ants at bay, cinnamon may be all you need.

Use it to deter the six-legged critters from invading your home by spreading powdered cinnamon anywhere you catch sight of them, Anniesremedy.com says. Not only will you be bug-free, but your home will smell delicious, too.

Mix equal parts organic virgin coconut oil (melted), bakingsoda and corn starch and store in jar. Apply with your fingers or a cotton ball. The best time to apply deodorant is right after a shower and/or before bedtime.

Combine all ingredients in a jar or plastic container with a lid. Place lid on container and shake several times to mix ingredients thoroughly. Use 1 tablespoon per load. If load is heavily soiled, use 2 tablespoons. Yields up to 40 loads.

Deodorize everything with lemons in a pinch.

Lemons are all the firepower you'll need in the face of life's stinkier problems.

Toss leftover lemon peels into the garbage disposal and let it whirl to get rid of any unsavory smells.

You can also rub down your cutting board with half a lemon and coarse salt to freshen it up. During cooler months, cozy up to the fireplace and toss a few peels on the flames to add a citrusy hint to the air in your home.

Cereal bags are a cheaper alternative to Ziplocs.

AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

Ziplock bags cost a fortune and the store-brand stuff is rarely worth its weight in flimsy plastic.

"You can use them to store baked goods or a sandwich, apply breadcrumb coatings to meat, fish and poultry, roll up cookie dough logs, contain ingredients to be crushed with a rolling pin, or as a trash container in your car," Noel says.

Shampoo dregs make shaving cream obsolete.

Cuticle softener: A squirt of shampoo in a bowl of warm water is great for at-home manicures, Noel says. Shaving cream: Swap out your Barbasol for leftover conditioner or shampoo. Fog-proof goggles: "To prevent swim masks and goggles from fogging up, fill a squirt bottle with a mixture of one part baby shampoo and two parts water. Apply it to the goggles, and lightly rinse."

Aluminum foil doubles as dryer sheets

"Wad foil into balls that are approximately 3 inches in diameter and use them to reduce static in your dryer," she says. "You can wrap a tennis ball in foil, too."

Coffee doubles as cheap hair dye.

AP/Diane Bondareff

Good news, brunettes. Ditch those $200 touch-ups at the salon and brew an extra pot of Joe instead to brighten up your hair color.

Mint.com suggests taking a strong pot of black coffee after it's cooled and pouring it on freshly shampooed strands. Let it soak for about 10 to 15 minutes (plenty of time to brew yourself another cup) and then rinse with cool water. Follow it up with conditioner and style as usual.

Bonus: Save the leftover grounds if you're looking for a cheap alternative fertilizer.